Dispensing and measuring device



July l', 1930. .w. w. CAMPBELL 1,768,826'

DISPENSING AND'MEASURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 21, 1928 Ill I I' -l 31a/vento@ zaaizerwzeu 4 Patented July l, 1930 het,

WILLIAM w. CAMPBELL, onsAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNon or CNE-HALF To Gnovnn s. CAMPBELL, or BENTON, TEXAS Y :DIsPnNsING AND MEASURING DEVICE yApplication rfiled February 21, 1928. SeraI No. 256,047.

My invention relates to improvements in dispensing and measuring devices, and more particularly to a device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of powdered soap, al-V 5 though not necessarily restricted to this use, as it may be applied to dispensing other ma-` terials. y n

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which will automatically reset itself afterlthe dispensing operation. y r

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above-mentioned character withmeans for agitating the contents of the container during each dispensing operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple of construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of my 3in vention will be apparent during the course v of the following description. y y

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and wherein like characters of reference denote. like or corresponding parts throughout the same, -Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dispensing device embodying my invention,

VFigure 2 is a vertical central section lthere-` through, V

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the dispensing cap and taken at right angles to FigureZ,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the plunger casing showing the re-` lation of the plunger to the ratchet wheel.`

Figure 5 is a detail perspective viewfof the operating parts of the device, and,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the plunger at the end of its stroke.

In the drawings kwherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodi- Vglass or the like, and which is provided at its upper end with a removable filling `cap.

11 preferably screw-threaded, adapted to be removed to allow replenishmg of the containers contents.

` A cap member 12 is secured to the lower end ofthe container, vand converges to a rectangular opening 13. A cylindrical cas#l ing or chamber 14 has a rectangular opening 15 adapted to correspond with the opening'13, the sides of the opening 13 being shaped to snugly lit the contour of the cylindrical chamber 14. The sides of the opening 15 v,are provided with integral flaps 16` which t within the opening 13 andare pressed over the sides thereofto firmly se-` cure the chamber 14 to the cap 12. This' construction results in a snug, air-tight lit without soldering or welding. Y

The cylindrical chamber 14 has one end.. closed and the other op.en,`and a ydisk 17 having a circumferentialy ange 18, is adapt` ed to fit withinthe open endof the chamberl 14, the flange 18 abutting against the end of the chamber. A shaft 19 has one end' journaled .infthe end wallv of the chamber' 14 and the other end journaled in the disk 17, centrally thereof, the shaft extending' through the disk and'therebeyond. Vanes 20 arefsecured toror formed on the shaft 19 and extend'radially therefrom toV the` walls of the 4cylindrical chamber. The vanes are shownin Figure 2 as four in number, thereby forming four pockets or cham'- to the walls thereof, thereby forming theA pockets y21 which are practically air-tight and which have no communication one with the other. An opening 22 vis arranged in the, bottom 'of the cylindrical chamber k14 and is'arranged diametrically opposite to the ropening land corresponds thereto in size and contour. l 'j t The distance between the ends of contiguous vanes is slightly greater than the widthof the openings 15 and 22, and it will be,` seen that ywhen one of the vpockets 21 is in registration with the opening 15, another of the pockets is in registration with the -opening 22. vvRotation ofthe shaft one-k quarter of a turn will bring the next pockets into ali nment with the openings and 22. Guide ns 23 depend from the sides of the openin 22 and ma be formed integrally with t e walls of t e chamber 14 or they ma be secured in any suitable manner.

i tubular sleeve 24 is detachably secured to the upper portion of the disk 17 exteriorly of the casing 14 by means of .screws or the like 25 passing through lugs on the sleeve.

Bhe sleeve 24 has one *ofk its ends closed 'at 26, and a plun er 27 is inserted through the open end yof t e sleeve and has a reduced extension 28 at its inner end adapted to lit within a coil spring 29 arranged in the closed end of thev sleeve 24. The plunger 27 is of the same diameter as the inner circumference of the sleeve and is adapted to be pushed forward in said sleeve against the tension of the spring`29.

A ratchet wheel 30 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 19 .by means of a pin '31 and is provided with suitable teeth corre- Spondingin number with the 'numbery of Yanes on the shaft. The ratchet wheel 30 projects through a slot or opening 32 vin they lower sideof the sleeve 24. The plunger` 2725s provided with an elongated vertical `thickened end portion. Figures 4 vand 6 illustrate 4the relation of the pawl to the ratchet wheel, the plunger and sleeve being shown in an inverted position. Figure 4 illustrates the normal position of the plunger with the pawl pressedfagainst one of the teeth on the ratchetwheel, the flanged portion `37 preventing the pawl from slipping past Lthe tooth. When the plunger is forced inwardly the pawl is forced against the` ratchet wheel and causes it to rotate, the of the ratchet wheel pressing against theange 37 -and forcing the pawl upwardl against the tension of. .the Vspring 36. dien `the Itooth engaging the pawl has passed its-dead center, thespring 36 *forces the pa-wlfdownwardly and when the plunger has reached the end of its stroke, the pawl and ratchet wheel will be -in the -position shown rin 'Figure 6. When the plunger 4is released the pawl will be in the position shown in Figure' l4. Where 'there are lfour valles and fourteeth on the ratchet wheel the `shaft will have turned a quarter of a revolutiomanddil'ferent pockets 21 will corras ynd with theopenings 15 and 22. It be seen from Figure 2that the contents of the container 10 will ill'the upper pocket N with theopening 15, and as the shaft 19 is rotated the pockets will be successively filled through the opening 15 and emptied through the opening 22.

In order to insure the roper feeding of the material in the container 10, I provide an agitator which is operated by rotation of the shaft 19. The agitator is preferably formed from a piece of spring wire having one end secured to the inside of the cap 12 at 38, is Ycoiled A'about itself `at 39 adjacent the securing member 38 and has a looped portion 40 normally extending throu h the opening 15 into the corresponding poc et 21. The end of the agitator extends above the `cap 12 'and terminates in a loo )ed transverse member 41. When the sha t 19 is rotated, one of the vanes 20 forces the agitator out of the opening 15, and as the vane passes beneath the loop 40, the tension of the coil 39 returns the agitator to its normal position. This agitating movement is very abrupt and insures proper lfeeding of the powderled soap or other material to the pockets 21.

A supporting member 42 is provided with a yoke 43 adapted for connection with the container cap 12 and ,the ymember 42 is adapted to be Vsecured to a wall or other-sup port by means of one-way screws to `prevent Y its removal.

The dispensing device may -be operated with vone 'hand by pressing the cupped hand against the plunger-so that the palm of the hand will be below the opening 22 to receive the soap discharged by the action of the plunger, the fins 23 preventing the soap from scattering.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of @parts 'may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope ofthe subjoined claims.

Having thus described `my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing device for containers comprising a chamber yhaving an inletfopening communicating with the Ainterior ofthe container, anda discharge opening, a member having trunnionsl journaled for rotation in the end walls of the chamber, said {member having a vplurality of measuring 4compartments therein adapted for registration with the -inlet and discharge openings, a ratchet wheel secured to the projecting'trunnion'exteriorly of the chamber and having equally spaced teeth of a number correspending to the number `of compartments in said rotatable member, a plunger slidably arranged `exteriorly of said chamber and having an elongated slot to receive the ratchet wheel, and a pawl arranged in said slot and adapted to engage the teeth on said ratchet wheel whereby movement of the plungerwill rotate said rotatable member to bring different compartments into alignment with the inlet and outlet openings.

2. A dispensing and measuring device for containers comprising a chamber having an inlet opening communicating with the interior of the container7 and a discharge opening, a member having trunnions journaled for rotation in the end walls of the chamber,

one of said trunnions extending eXteriorly of the chamber, said member having a plurality of measuring compartments therein adapted for registration with said inlet and discharge openings, a ratchet wheel secured to the projecting trunning eXteriorly of the chamber and having equally spaced teeth of a number corresponding to the number of compartments in said rotatable member, a plunger casing secured to said chamber and having a slot to receive the ratchet wheel, a plunger slidable longitudinally in said casing, resilient means in said casing normally forcing said plunger outwardly, said plunger having an elongated slot therein adapted to receive said ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel serving to retainthe plungerI Y within the casing, and a spring pressed pawl pivotally secured within the plunger slot and engaging said ratchet wheel whereby inward movement of the plunger serves to rotate the measuring compartment member to bring different compartments into registration with the inlet and discharge openings.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

WILLIAM W. CAMPBELL. 

